Rosie, too, looks upset and stands, wrapping her arms around my waist as we watch.
‘I think we’re going to need to get this checked out, Thanos,’ Daniel looks up from his kneeling position with a worried frown on his face. ‘Can you call a taxi? We need to get Bella’s ankle X-rayed to make sure she hasn’t broken a bone.’
He begins packing ice into the centre of one of the napkins and I’m horrified at how swollen Bella’s ankle is already. She’s no longer crying but the moment he applies the ice she yells out in anguish.
I kneel down next to the couch and Bella grabs my hand.
‘It hurts really badly, Leah.’ Her tearful little face is ashen.
‘The ice will help reduce the swelling and the pain, Bella. You’re being very brave and we’re so proud of you, aren’t we Rosie?’
Daniel, too, is in a state of shock. We exchange glances and I hold out my free hand, offering to swap places. I grab the ice pack and slide across while Daniel straightens, moving around behind me to hold Bella’s hand.
‘Why don’t you take another napkin and dip it in the ice water so you can wipe Bella’s face over? It will cool her down a little,’ I suggest.
Thanos reappears.
‘The taxi is two minutes away.’
Daniel has his arms around Bella’s shoulders now and her head is resting against his chest.
‘Do you want us to come to the hospital with you?’ My voice croaks with the emotion I’m trying my best to contain.
The intensity of the look that passes between us is like a jolt of electricity. Suddenly everything seems to stand still for a moment and what I see on his face is a mixture of indecision and gut-wrenching sadness. The moment passes and I know what his answer is going to be.
‘No. You’re leaving early tomorrow and you both need to get a good night’s sleep. We’ll probably be at the hospital for a few hours. I don’t think it’s broken, but at the very least it’s a bad sprain.’
The look he gives me is full of unspoken emotion and his eyes close for one second as an expression of regret passes over his face. He mouths, ‘I’m sorry, Leah,’ before bending to scoop Bella up into his arms. We’ve run out of time.
‘Dad, I want my mum.’ Bella’s voice wavers, as she tries to keep her tears in check.
I glance up to see the driver walking into the reception. In less than a couple of minutes Rosie and I are left standing, arms wrapped around each other as we watch the taxi pull away.
‘We didn’t get to say a proper goodbye, Mum. I feel really sad. I hope Bella is going to be all right.’
‘Me too, Rosie. Poor, poor Bella but I’m sure she’ll be fine, and they’ll take good care of her.’
It’s a horrible thing to happen and my heart goes out to them both. It also feels wrong letting them go off like that. We’ll have no idea at all how she’s doing, or whether Daniel needs any help. Nothing would make me happier than to be the support that he needs at this moment but it isn’t my place. He made the only decision he could, given the circumstances.
‘We need to finish our packing, Rosie.’ I try my hardest to put a little lift back into my tone. I can’t risk letting her see how devastated I’m feeling. Somehow, I need to raise her spirits for our last evening in Athens, when all I really want to do is curl up in a ball and have a good cry.
Home Alone
Rosie hasn’t stopped chatting since we arrived at Mum and Dad’s house. The travelling yesterday tired us both out and last night we slept like logs so at least today we are both feeling a little refreshed. I’m dropping her off for a sleepover which will allow me to spend some time catching up at home. Rosie is being treated to a trip out to the mall and the new Disney film later this evening. I know how much Mum and Dad miss her these days; it’s been an adjustment for us all.
‘Are the presents in my bag, Mum?’ Rosie quizzes me and I nod.
‘Yes. Everything’s in there. Have fun and I will see you tomorrow.’
I give everyone a hug and beat a hasty retreat. I woke up with a thumping headache this morning and my thoughts in a turmoil.
The first thing I do when I arrive home is dial Harrison’s number.
‘Morning, I’m back.’
‘Hey, it’s good to hear your voice. You sound tired.’
‘Tired, jaded, fed up. You name it.’
There’s a pause. ‘Your text said you were having a good time in Athens. What went wrong?’
Where do I start?
‘Everything. I met the most amazing guy and we had one, unexpected, but very passionate night together. On our final night in Athens his daughter tripped on some steps and hurt her ankle, so we didn’t even get to say a proper goodbye. He was going to tell me something that might have … oh, it’s hard to explain. They headed off to the hospital and that was it. I’m devastated.’
He tuts, sympathetically.
‘Tell me you at least had a frank and meaningful talk?’
A second or two passes and I feel like a complete fool.
‘He doesn’t even know how you feel, does he?’ Harrison asks, incredulously.
‘No. I mean, even I’m not sure I could put it into words. The passion was real and that’s not something that’s easy to fake. I’m sure I wasn’t imagining it when I say he felt the same, but we just didn’t have a chance to—’
I trail off; without knowing for sure what Daniel was going to tell me I have no idea what my reaction would have been. If he wasn’t prepared to be upfront with me then I would have walked away. It’s as simple as that but now I’ll probably never know for sure.
‘It sounds like a long story. How about we meet up halfway between us and do lunch? You can tell me everything. Then you can lecture me because I’ve made no progress at all at this end. In fact, I’m spooking my parents with so many ad-hoc visits. Dad even asked if I was doing all right for money the other day. It’s too embarrassing for words.’
‘I’d love to, really I would, but today I have a mountain of washing and some paperwork to attend to. Tomorrow Rosie is being dropped back here just before lunch and we need to spend a few hours together relaxing. Trips abroad are great but they are tiring and we’ll probably laze around and watch a few films so she’s rested for school on Monday.’
‘Hmm.’ I can almost hear Harrison’s brain ticking away. ‘How about a day next week?’
‘Monday I’m booked to visit an art studio and do a shoot for a magazine spread. Then I will have to rush home as I have the first session with my counsellor.’
‘You did it! Well done, you. How about Tuesday, then? I’ll come to you because I know you’re governed by the school runs. It sounds like there will be a lot to discuss.’
It’s generous of Harrison to make the trip down here, even though a part of me is saying that I should say no because I have a lot of work to do.
‘Tuesday it is, then. I’ll text you my address. We can go for a walk in the forest and then come back here for lunch. If you arrive some time around eleven, then we’ll have a good few hours before I collect Rosie. How does that sound?’
‘Great. I doubt I’ll have any news to share. I’m giving my parents a wide berth for a few days. Ollie and I have dinner plans with friends tonight. At least they’re in the know and we can both relax in their company.’
I feel for him as it’s a difficult situation.
‘Well, have a lovely time. I’m off to clean the house and get as much online work done as I can.’
‘I’ll be thinking of you at the counsellor’s on Monday, lovely lady. It’s time to put it all out there once and for all.’
As I lay the phone down on my desk I know he’s right and I should have done something about it long ago. There are lots of loose ends that I need to address. I slip off my jacket and walk through to the kitchen. Everything seems back to normal as if Athens never happened and it could easily have been a dream.
I load the washing machine with the first of three piles of clothing lying on the floor an
d then make a coffee. First, I need to download the photos and I slot the camera’s SD card into the reader.
On the screen in front of me a file opens up with a whole raft of thumbnail icons. I highlight them all, then cut and paste them into a folder on the desktop. It takes a little while for them to transfer and I start opening the stack of post in front of me.
Mostly it’s junk mail, but there’s a credit card statement with a nil balance and beneath that is a smaller envelope that’s been written out by hand. I suck in a deep breath as I recognise my ex-mother-in-law Zita’s handwriting, although the stamp, too, gives it away.
I open it, wondering why she’s writing to us instead of emailing. Usually only birthday and Christmas cards come through the post from Italy.
My dear Leah
I write to tell you some news I cannot share in any other way. I think you will be shocked as we were. I know not how to say this so I tell you what happened.
We had a letter from Antonio. He sent us his postal address, as well as his email address. He is living in Florida in the United States of America.
He begged us to make contact and wanted news of Rosie. He did not ask about you but he said he felt much guilt about the past.
Guido and I do not know what to do. How can we forgive him? And yet he is still our son.
We carry much sadness and it’s hard to forgive what cannot be undone. I’m sorry and I know this is hard to hear after all this time. We wait to hear from you when you are ready and will do nothing until such time.
You are both in our hearts, always.
Zita and Guido
I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach. I stuff the letter back into the envelope and open the top drawer of the desk, thrusting it inside. I close it with a bang. I don’t even know how to feel about that right now and I have too much on my plate to give thought to it.
Draining my coffee I’m glad of the little kick of caffeine then click on the first of the jpeg files. It opens to show a smiley-faced Rosie in the airport terminal with our plane being fuelled in the background.
I relax my shoulders and lean forward, clicking through the photos one by one. There are a few taken from the balcony of the hotel shortly after we arrived and I continue scrolling through. I sit for quite a while, re-living some of the moments before I eventually sit back in my chair, a frown on my face.
Well, that wasn’t quite what I was hoping to see. I probably have forty or fifty shots of front doors and balconies, maybe half a dozen usable shots from the Acropolis but the rest – what was I thinking? Actually, it’s clear I wasn’t thinking at all. I was taking photos through rose-coloured lenses. Either Daniel, or him with both girls, are in every single frame. I rest my arms on the desk in front of me and lay my head on top. So far, I’ve never had to resort to using stock photographs that are available online, but I simply don’t have what I need to make the articles stand out. Without good quality, unique photographs to mirror the personal account of my travels, the articles on Athens, the hotel and the villa will look contrived, merely an advert.
My head continues to pound and now I’m feeling queasy as well. I go in search of some headache tablets while I sort out what I’m going to do and in what order.
If you can get yourself out from under a mountain of debt, you can unravel this latest dilemma, Leah. Just remain calm and do what you always do – which is to begin working through it. If I focus on getting everything typed up, I can worry about what I’m going to do about the photographs later. Maybe there are a few that can be salvaged with careful use of the crop facility but I know that’s a long shot. Daniel seems to be standing in the centre of almost every photo and even just looking at them I’m filled with an intense longing to be back there with him. But I need to pull myself together and decide on my next course of action. Maybe I could use a couple of the fascinating door shots to give a flavour of the labyrinth of streets in Plaka?
I groan out loud. ‘How can you have messed up so badly, Leah?’
My words seem to echo around the room and the little voice inside my head is quick to answer.
Fatal attraction.
The Visit
It’s funny but when Rosie isn’t here I find it harder to focus on what needs to be done. I’m so used to having her around that it feels like something is missing and while I do manage to get quite a bit done, early evening I begin to flag. I don’t seem to have any enthusiasm to tackle the outstanding chores, so I have a long soak in the bath. By seven in the evening I’m on the sofa in my PJs. So, when the doorbell rings I groan. I’ve not been here to order anything online so it must be Sally; I know I should have called her but I’m struggling a little to be upbeat at the moment.
As I swing the door open, sporting the most cheerful smile I can muster, it immediately freezes on my face when I see Daniel standing in front of me. I can’t even begin to take this in.
‘What on earth are you doing here?’ I’m aware it sounds rather unwelcoming but I’m in shock.
‘I know I should have called you first, but some things need to be said face to face.’
Daniel makes no move to enter, even though I stand back to let him pass.
‘Look, I know it’s summer but that’s a chilly breeze and I’m freezing here. Can you just come in, please, and tell me what’s going on? How on earth did you find me?’
Now he looks miserable, but at least my words galvanise him into action and he moves forward, passing me without so much as a glance my way.
Then I remember I’m wearing my favourite Christmas PJs because the heating isn’t on and he’s probably embarrassed as it’s obvious I wasn’t expecting company. And certainly not in the form of Daniel. I close the door and brace myself, before following him into the sitting room. He’s standing there looking a little dazed.
‘This seemed like a good idea at the time, if an impulsive one. I Googled you and managed to find an address. It’s clear we have unfinished business between us. Seeing you standing here, sporting a rather large novelty reindeer on that fetching top, has completely emptied my head of words.’ And with that he begins laughing. I glare at him, pretending to take offence and indicate for him to slip off his jacket.
‘Look, I’m sorry I didn’t think this through properly and I hope you will forgive me, Leah. But it’s damned good to see you.’
‘How’s Bella?’
I place his jacket on a chair and then we both sit down at opposite ends of the sofa. The yawning gap between us signifies the awkwardness we’re both feeling.
‘Tricia is back in charge and I’ve been dismissed.’ He grimaces. ‘So Bella will be fine; she’s in excellent hands.’
‘And you?’
‘Well, it was all such a shock. The accident and then having to leave abruptly when I needed to … wanted to explain.’
Suddenly my stomach is doing somersaults because I have no idea what he’s going to say.
‘Explain what, exactly?’ I ask, my gaze unwavering.
‘Look, Leah, I don’t quite know how to tell you this if I’m being honest. I hope you can understand that it’s not something I can just throw into a conversation.’
He pauses for a moment and I find myself holding my breath.
‘I have a heart problem and what you felt was a scar from the operation I had shortly after Tricia and I split up. That’s the real reason why I didn’t see Bella for a while; we decided it was best she didn’t know. When she’s older I’ll sit her down and explain it in detail but she’d already been through so much, this seemed like overload at the time.’
When you finally admit to yourself you have feelings for someone and you hear them telling you they have a heart problem, it’s like being punched in the stomach. He looks so fit and well, I can hardly take it in even though I’ve felt his scar with my own fingertips.
‘But you’re so young, Daniel. Is it a hereditary condition?’
He seems uncomfortable with my question and I can see how hard this is for him as he
shakes his head.
‘No, nothing like that. But like any illness it leaves more than just a physical scar. It’s a reminder that even when the spirit is strong, a body can be weak.’
It’s wrong of me to interrogate him and I can see he’s shaken by my reaction. But I worry about the people I’m close to and unwittingly I find Daniel has become one of them. I care and yet I don’t want to alarm or upset him in any way. So I take the only other option and that’s to change the subject.
‘How long can you stay?’
He begins to relax, almost collapsing back against the cushions.
‘Until tomorrow. I’m on the early evening flight out. I have a coach seat booked for eleven in the morning.’
I’m overwhelmed. Daniel came all this way because he’s right, this isn’t something he could have dealt with by text, or phone. His body language is telling me as much, if not more than his words. He, too, is devastated by what happened because it’s left him feeling vulnerable and that’s something he struggles to accept. I want to wrap my arms around him and hug away the bad memories. I want to make him feel whole again.
‘When did you last eat?’ I probe him gently.
‘I can’t remember. I’m so tired it’s all a bit hazy.’
I slide along the sofa until our bodies are touching and then I half-turn to drape my arms around his shoulders.
‘It’s going to be fine, Daniel. I’m glad you flew over. Now let’s get you something to eat and drink. Then next on the list is a good night’s sleep. After that you’ll be feeling much better and we can pick this back up in the morning.’
He’s too exhausted to argue and less than an hour later I’m propped up in bed watching him sleep and trying to figure out what happens next.
~
‘How do you instinctively know what to do and when to do it? I was about to keel over last night and yet this morning I’m bursting with energy.’
‘So I gathered. Being woken up at dawn for a little romantic interlude was a bit of a surprise.’
A Greek Affair Page 16
